When India incorporated the princely states a lot of the prince's kept vast personal fortunes.
What would have happened if these fortunes were confiscated or heavily taxed as the princely state joined India.
I'm thinking in particular the Nazim of Hydrabad who was considered the richest person in the world when he passed away (inflation adjusted wealth in excess of $200 billion in today's money) and similar people of that sort.
Would it have made the princely states struggle more to prevent unification or would the additional wealth in state coffers have made much of a difference to the economy of India going forward.
Similarly could Britain have moved against the princely states incorporating them with British India at some stage in the 20th century and attempted to apply taxes to the princes?
What would have happened if these fortunes were confiscated or heavily taxed as the princely state joined India.
I'm thinking in particular the Nazim of Hydrabad who was considered the richest person in the world when he passed away (inflation adjusted wealth in excess of $200 billion in today's money) and similar people of that sort.
Would it have made the princely states struggle more to prevent unification or would the additional wealth in state coffers have made much of a difference to the economy of India going forward.
Similarly could Britain have moved against the princely states incorporating them with British India at some stage in the 20th century and attempted to apply taxes to the princes?